Receiving device for components directly connected with a board

ABSTRACT

A receiving device for component parts, such as electric assemblies, is connected directly to a circuit board. The weight of the electric assembly is carried by a supporting device on contacting the circuit board. A connector which is part of the electric assembly or one of its components is flexibly disposed with respect to a socket of the circuit board, so that the production tolerances can be compensated without problem and a plug-in connection can be achieved between the connector and the socket without the weight of the electric components placing a load on the plug-in connection.

CROSS REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS

This Application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 08/716,336filed Sep. 27, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,961, which was the Nationalstage of International Application No. PCT/EP95/01208, filed Mar. 31,1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a receiving device for component partswhich are directly connected with a printed circuit board.

In the development of electronic systems, in particular of dataprocessing systems, a tendency toward a modular design is obvious.Functionally related components are combined in one assembly, iftechnically realizable. One example of such an assembly is a powersupply module, as describe in detail herein. As far as technicallyfeasible, such assemblies are connected with a circuit board by means ofa connector. The advantages obtainable due to such a modular approachare to be recognized in the reduction of the plurality of connectingcables between the various components among one another, and in theplurality of connecting cables between the component parts and thecircuit board. A reduction of the plurality of connecting cables has theadvantage of largely reducing also electromagnetic interactions betweensuch electric connecting leads. Signal errors may thereby largely beexcluded. The modular approach has the further advantage that complexelectronic systems can be produced, tested and maintained in a muchsimpler way.

One problem encountered in that modular design is, however, that heavyassemblies cannot be connected directly with the circuit board withoutproblems. Because there is a heavy load on the connector between theassembly and the circuit board due to the weight of the assembly, sothat the contacts within the circuit board may become destroyed in thecourse of time. This is in particular true when the system is exposed tovibrations or oscillations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to realize areceiving device for assemblies which are directly connected with thecircuit board, which permits connecting the assemblies with the circuitboard regardless of their weight, without damage occurring in thecontacts with the circuit board, such device being simple andinexpensive in production and assembly and not limiting the modularapproach.

The present invention is directed to an electronic apparatus including afirst casing, and a first circuit board located within the first casingand having a socket. An assembly is adapted for being positioned withinthe first casing and includes a second circuit board and at least oneconnector positioned on the second circuit board. The socket of thefirst circuit board and the connector positioned on the second circuitboard are flexibly positioned with respect to one another. A supportingdevice is positioned substantially on the first circuit board to receivethe assembly so that the connector and the socket will be connected.

Advantages obtained due to the invention are to be seen essentially inthat it is possible to directly connect nearly any assembly of thesystem regardless of its weight directly with the circuit board. Thisdoes away with superfluous electric connecting leads between theindividual component parts and the circuit board. Signal transfererrors--caused by neighboring connecting leads--are largely reduced.

In the following, the invention will be explained in further detailstaking reference to a preferred embodiment thereof with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a casing of a data processing system in which the receivingdevice according to the invention is preferably used,

FIG. 2 shows a component part in connection with the circuit board andthe device according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a component part which is decoupled as toits weight from the circuit board due to the device in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 4 shows a circuit board as preferably used in the device accordingto the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the casing 2 of a data processing system in which thedevice according to the invention is preferably used. The casing 2comprises components, the so-called power supply modules 4 consisting ofan electronic board 12, in particular a logic board, and batteries. Thepower supply modules 4 are inserted into the upper part of the casing 2by way of guide rails into the casing and are directly connected withthe circuit board by means of a connector. As regards the heavybatteries contained in the power supply modules, there is a technicalrequirement of essentially relieving the sockets of the circuit board ofthe weight of said batteries. FIG. 2 shows the method of carrying outthe said weight relief by means of the device in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows the receiving device in its operative interconnection withthe power supply module 4 and the circuit board 26. The circuit board 26is preferably installed between two reinforcing plates 28 in order toprevent a sagging of the circuit board 26 due to the heavy power supplymodules 4. A holding pin 30 is placed on one of the reinforcing plates28. The holding pin 30 is preferably placed on the reinforcing plate 28so that the power supply module 4 engages automatically into the casing14 of the power supply module 4 on contacting the circuit board 26, andcarries the weight of the power supply module 4. If there are aplurality of power supply modules 4 one aside the other, each of thepower supply modules 4 requires a separate holding pin 30 associatedwith it. The casing 14 of the power supply module 4 contains an openingin the form of a bore into which engages the holding pin 30. The plug 10of the power supply module 4 is firmly located on the electronic board12. The electronic board 12 is flexibly supported in the interior ofcasing 14 of the power supply module 4. The flexible support of theelectronic board 12 within the casing 14 is obtained by supportingrotatably the electronic board 12 in the area of its center of gravity.This is preferably obtained by screwing the electronic board 12 in thearea of its center of gravity to the side wall of the casing 14 by meansof a screw 22.

The electronic board 12 is attached to the lateral wall of the casing 14by means of the screws 22 and 24, so that the electronic board 12 isflexibly supported on the said screws in the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the screws. Considering that the connector 10 isfirmly attached to the electronic board 12, the flexibility of theelectronic board 12 in this direction is required in order to facilitatean adjustment of the connector 10 in its horizontal direction withregard to the socket 34.

In this respect, the screw 22 serves as axis of rotation for the circuitboard 12. Screws 24 and 22 are preferably collar screws designed so thatthe electronic board 12 has a clearance in the area of the screws 24,whereas the screw 22 serves as fixed fulcrum. Such flexibility of theelectronic board 12 facilitates an adjustment of the connector 10 in itsvertical and horizontal directions with regard to the socket 34 of thecircuit board 26.

Thus the support of the electronic board 12 is so flexible that theconnector 10 attached to the electronic board 12 can be adjusted withoutproblem to the socket 34 of the circuit board both in vertical and inhorizontal directions. Tolerance differences due to production may beadjusted by means of the flexible support of the electric board. Theabove described receiving device may be used in various technicalsystems, in particular in electronic equipment of any kind, as far as adirect connection of the various modules or components with the circuitboard is desirable or required. The above described placement of thereceiving device according to the invention is but one preferredimplementation of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view on a power supply module 4, comprising theelectronic board 12 with connector 10, batteries 18, casing section 14and a casing lid 20. As will be seen in the exploded view, theelectronic board 12 is secured to the internal wall of the casingsection 14 by means of six screws 24. Screws 24 and bores within theelectronic board 12 are selected in relative positions so that thescrews 24 will have a certain clearance within the bores. The electronicboard 12 is connected with the inner wall of the casing section 14 bymeans of a further screw 22. Screw 22 and the respective bore within theelectronic board are selected in relative positions with respect to oneanother that the screw 22 is lodged within the bore, although rotatablybut without clearance. Screw 22 is disposed preferably in the area ofthe center of gravity of the electronic board 12.

The complete attachment device of the electronic board 12 in the casing14 of the power supply module is designed so that the said electronicboard facilitates an adjustment to the position of the socket 34 theweight of the power supply module 4 being carried by the support device30, in particular by a pin. Also other equivalent means such as screw,rivet etc. may be used. The batteries 18 are disposed in the casing lid20. The casing 14 of the power supply module is provided with an openingfor the connector 10.

FIG. 4 depicts a circuit board 26 with reinforcement plates 28 arrangedon both sides. The holding pins 30 are placed on the reinforcement plate28. In case that reinforcement plates 28 are not required, the holdingpins 30 may be fastened directly to the circuit board 26. Thereinforcement plate 28 is provided with openings 36 for accommodatingthe connector 10 of the power supply modules 4. The connectors 10 of thepower supply modules are connected with the respective sockets 34 of thecircuit board 26.

Summarizing, it may be said that the device according to the inventionmay be used for nearly all feasible technical connectors where inparticular heavy assemblies are desired or required to be directlyconnected with a circuit board. This is true in particular for thedevices of data processing but also of electrical engineering.

We claim:
 1. An electronic apparatus comprising:a first casing; a firstcircuit board located within said first casing and having a socket; anassembly adapted for being positioned within said first casing andincluding a second circuit board and at least one connector positionedon said second circuit board, said socket of said first circuit boardand said connector positioned on said second circuit board beingflexibly positioned with respect to one another; and a supporting devicepositioned substantially on said first circuit board for receiving saidassembly so that said connector and said socket will be connected. 2.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting device comprises atleast one projecting pin adapted for engaging said assembly duringpositioning of said assembly within said first casing.
 3. The electronicapparatus of claim 2 further including at least one reinforcing plate,said first circuit board and said at least one projecting pin positionedon said at least one reinforcing plate.
 4. The electronic apparatus ofclaim 2 wherein said assembly further comprises a second casing havingsaid second circuit board positioned therein, said at least oneprojecting pin engaging said second casing during said positioning ofsaid assembly within said first casing.
 5. The electronic apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising a plurality of said assemblies positionedwithin said first casing, and said electronic apparatus being a dataprocessing system.